THE WRAP: BlackBerry bans and a neutrality deal

Robert Clark | August 06, 2010

telecomseurope.net

This week governments wrung their hands over RIM, as Google and Verizon neared a ground-breaking net neutrality deal.

Citing its strong encryption, Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states banned the BlackBerry, Lebanon considered it while in India RIM sought a deal with authorities to allow it to stay in the market.

Google and Verizon were close to a net neutrality deal setting ground rules on how networks deal with different kinds of traffic.

Google chief Eric Schmidt said 200,000 Android-based phones were being sold daily, as surveys showed it had become the most popular smartphone platform in the US.

RIM unveiled its new flagship phone, the BlackBerry Torch, and a new OS.

Nokia and LG lost more market share to Samsung and OEM handset-makers, according to IDC.

So-called ‘activist’ investor Carl Icahn increased his stake in Motorola for the second time this year.

India’s Department of Telecommunications agreed to build a 4G network for the military as part of their latest spectrum deal.

Hutchison Whampoa’s 3G group narrowed its loss and said it would turn its first profit this year.